Rabin memorial rally in Tel Aviv
Photo: Yaron Brener
The great divide
Growing schism in Israeli society could pave way for another political murder
I attended the 12th memorial
for slain Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in Tel Aviv Saturday night. I was not there to accuse anyone. The murderer was tried, convicted and is sitting in prison, albeit, at the time of the memorial he was preparing to celebrate the bris of a controversially conceived son from a controversial marriage. In spite of the controversies, I accept that justice has been done.
I attended the rally, which drew 100,000 people who like myself came to express their enduring shock and sadness over the event that occurred at that very square 12 years earlier. I, as they, was there to honor the memory of a man who I believe was an admirable leader.
I know there are others who view Rabin’s performance as prime minister differently. However, in a healthy society there should be a wide gap between differences of political opinion and justifying an assassination; any assassination.
However, the following day at work the memorial pin, which I bought at the Square the night before, elicited a few startling comments from some co-workers.
The most oft repeated comment was “why don’t you all just let it go…it’s been 12 years already….isn’t it enough?” Well, my friends, for me it isn’t enough to forget that night. It is still painful. You tell me to “let go” yet in the next breath remind me about the Altalena and accuse Rabin of sinking the ship – and that happened 60 years ago.
Divine intervention
As to my co-worker who argued that even the Americans forgot about Kennedy, seems like is she misinformed. There are almost no Americans over the age of 50 who can’t recite exactly what they were doing on November 22nd 1963. They are still writing books and making movies about that event, which occurred almost half a century ago. They are not ashamed to admit that it was perhaps one of the most definitive moments in recent American history.One co-worker asked me whether I at least recognize the divine intervention that brought about the untimely demise of all leaders who relinquished even one inch of Greater Israel, including late Prime Minister Menachem Begin who gave back the Sinai. I reminded her of the untimely death of rightist politician Rehavam Ze'evi, who opposed the relinquishment of any land, and she replied: "but he was murdered". Well, so was Rabin.
Sadly I discovered that the schism in Israeli society is even greater than I had imagined. This was blatantly evident at the opening of a soccer match in Jerusalem where fans booed and cried out anti-Rabin chants during a pre-game ceremony calling for an end to violence.
At this time, I fear that all the "forgivers" who are uncomfortable with the memory of Rabin’s assassination may be paving the way for another assassination, by prompting us to close our eyes.
